Will you watch movies on your PSP?

[MartyG]

There's a whole debate waiting right there on the merit of buying movies on custom discs to watch on a tiny screen.

Following on from the thread in Headlines.

There are two seperate issues as I see it, 1) movies on a proprietry custom disc and 2) the size of the screen.

The second I don't really have that much of an issue on, the first I don't really care for. I have quite a vast collection of DVDs (well over 500), and I do like to watch them in widescreen and with decent surround sound. I'm not going to buying a film on two formats, especially as it's likely the movies will be of similar cost and are likely to be of poorer quality and lack the DVD features.

So for me movie watching on a PSP is a no, especially considering I'm not having to commute by train atm.

[Concept]

Nope. It's like reading a book on a train. I don't see the point in watching a film for 30 minutes to an hour, especially when you may not be able to properly concentrate on what's happening.

I suppose personally, I prefer to watch movies in an environment where I can lose myself more easily, and while the PSP offers great ease of use, it's movie-playing capabilities don't really interest me all that much.

[The Mole]

None, never watched a movie on my GP32 i guess it will be the same for the PSP (Should i get one).

[Treble]

Nope

[Treble]

Nope. It's like reading a book on a train

Don't get that one. I read Timbuktu by Paul Auster last night, Euston -> Chester, 2 hour journey, 186 pages done (the whole book). Perhaps you don't go on enough long and boring train journeys to realise they (books) can be your only solitude and escape from boredom? (I speak from experience )
Games work as fantastic time-killers too, naturally.

Anyway, it wouldn't be because of length of journey that i'd spurn the PSP's film playback potential, but because I wouldn't watch a film on so small a screen. I had a mini, portable TV once, not much smaller than the PSP screen, and it was just pointless.

[Goggy]

no, its just a crap gimmick, should've concentrated more on the gaming side of it.

[Concept]

Don't get that one. I read Timbuktu by Paul Auster last night, Euston -> Chester, 2 hour journey, 186 pages done (the whole book). Perhaps you don't go on enough long and boring train journeys to realise they (books) can be your only solitude and escape from boredom? (I speak from experience )
Games work as fantastic time-killers too, naturally.

Anyway, it wouldn't be because of length of journey that i'd spurn the PSP's film playback potential, but because I wouldn't watch a film on so small a screen. I had a mini, portable TV once, not much smaller than the PSP screen, and it was just pointless.

It's to do with concentration. When I read a book I savour, or particpate in watching a movie or a game I very much like, then I prefer to be able to have a high concentration level which doesn't have to be aware of anything else.

I can't do that on a train or a bus very easily I'm afraid. Maybe it's a sign that I'm too easily distracted or that I won't bridge a gap in allowing my acts of escapism to flourish in a public domain. You could say that it's evidence of the power of a good book or film which can immerse you outdoors in a place where they may be a lot of activity, but I prefer to place myself in an environment where I know I can place myself in a period of high concentration without it being broken. As for train journeys, then yes I've been on long ones. Mostly I just sleep, or try to.

[huxley]

could be tempted for going on hols etc

[buster_broon]

i can see really only Sony pictures providing most of the movies on those special discs (umd)

they mentioned that since its gaming on the go the movies have to be non region encrypted or region 0

All movie houses are governed by region encoding - so i doubt they will go for region 0, unless the movie is pretty old

[MartyG]

I'd be interested to know where you got that from - there's nothing that governs that if something is portable it has to be region free and movies will almost certainly be regioned. Sony are one of the more active companies at locking down their IP.

[Flompy]

The discs will undoubtably cost more then their 'standard' DVD counterparts, and to be honest be less enjoyable. I am sure I speak for most when I say I'd rather watch any film on a 32" screen in 5.1/DTS then on a handheld, heck I'd choose watching a movie on a 14" portable with RF over the PSP. Nothing against the idea- I just think the only people using it will be little kids who are meant to be asleep, but are instead under the covers squinting at Kirstens nipples through her top while she unmasks Spidey.

[kona]

I don't think I would. If I'm at home I'd rather watch movies on the TV obviously. When I'm not at home, that's because I'm working/shopping/drinking/watching movies at the cinema, so again no. I rarely travel for more than 30 minutes on the tube/train so once again watching films on the PSP is not ideal.

Having said that, if Sony released a UMD recorder for my PC, I wouldn't mind copying the fansubs I downloaded overnight and watching them on the way to work and back.

[buster_broon]

I'd be interested to know where you got that from - there's nothing that governs that if something is portable it has to be region free and movies will almost certainly be regioned. Sony are one of the more active companies at locking down their IP.

it was on gamerstv yesterday

they had a PSP special and they were speaking to sony and the man who invented the look of the PSP and incorporated all its features

funny thing is when they show the dvd player running its always spiderman 2 (sony)

[Ginza]

no, its just a crap gimmick, should've concentrated more on the gaming side of it.

What you mean like a DS ravon?

[MikeRox]

music playback I'd almost definately use... if I didn't have other things capable of doing it too...

mobile phones can play movies, don't see many people watching them on it tho. I think I'd prolly only use PSP for gaming myself too.